Vehicle ignition switch and lock therefor



Oct. 26, 1965 H. DUX 3,214,531

VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK THEREFOR Filed Oct. 18. 1961 IIIIIIIIIIIiIIII/IIIIIII HIGH 1 J TENSION INVENTOR.

Hen/3v Dux BY Art/run A. MCI/ United States Patent 3,214,531 VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK THEREFOR Henry Dux, 18 Pine St., Norwich, Conn. Filed Oct. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 145,955 2 Claims. (Cl. 20043) This invention relates to vehicle ignition systems and locks therefor, and more particularly to vehicle ignition locks of the type commonly referred to as combination locks.

The present invention concerns improvements in the vehicle combination lock system described and claimed in Patent No. 2,806,911, dated September 17, 1957, and entitled T=heft Lock System, wherein there is disclosed a combination automobile ignition lock having four knobs disposed in spaced relationship in a row, and associated respectively with four different dials or scales, the entire assemblage occupying an appreciable front space on an automobile instrument panel.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination vehicle ignition system and ignition lock of the kind referred to, wherein the knobs or actuators of the lock are located all at one general convenient location or operative position, just as the ignition key hole or opening of a conventional lock is located at a single convenient place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination vehicle ignition system and ignition lock as above set forth, wherein all of the knobs or actuators are referrable to but a single dial or scale, thus minimizing the likelihood of malfunctioning occurring, or mispositioning of the knobs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination vehicle ignition system and ignition lock in accordance with the foregoing, wherein there is eliminated the possibility that vibration, jarring or accidental touching of the knobs would change the setting of the same and thus break the ignition circuit.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel ignition system and lock device with closely juxtaposed knobs as characterized, wherein the act of setting any one knob will normally not alter or disturb the setting of the others, thereby facilitating appreciably the operation of the device.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a vehicle ignition system and combination-type ignition lock associated therewith, as provided by the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the knob and dial portion of the combination ignition lock for the ignition system; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the mul tiple switching device of the lock, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Considering first FIG. 1, a portion of the ignition system of a vehicle is diagrammatically illustrated, such system comprising a battery having one terminal 11 grounded at 12 and having its other terminal 14 connected by means of a wire 16 to one terminal of the primary coil 18 of a high tension transformer or spark ignition coil 20. The ignition coil 20 has a high voltage winding 22 which may be connected in the usual manner to ground at one terminal and to the vehicle distributor rotor at the other terminal.

The primary coil 18 has its other end or terminal connected to one wire 24 of a two-wire cable 26 the remaining wire 28 of which is connected to the breaker points 30 of the vehicle, which are grounded at 32.

It will be understood that when the wires 24 and 28 of the cable 26 are not connected with each other, the primary of the ignition coil circuit will be open, whereby the coil will be unenergized and no ignition of the engine can take place.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with such vehicle ignition circuit there is provided a novel and improved compact and essentially unitary combination-type ignition lock in the form af a unit device having a plurality of selector switches and knobs associated with each switch to effect positioning of the same. The invention further provides in said unit device relatively strong rotary detent means associated with each of the switches, and arranges the switches in a closely stacked assemblage with the shafts thereof in telescoping or concentric relation whereby the actuating knobs are all disposed at one general location, being axially aligned and juxtaposed. Thus, the electrical switch devices comprising the combination lock are not only in a compact unit which requires but little space, but the actuator members thereof are all disposed essentially at a single location. With the current, key-type ignition switch it will be noted that the key hole or opening is associated with a single, convenient location. Further, the strong detent means prevents malfunctioning of the combination lock, eliminating the result of any adverse influences due to vibration, jarring or accidental contact or shifting, as by brushing past the switch knobs with the hand.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the electrical switch means of the novel ignition and lock system, comprising a combination lock, is shown as constituted of three switch decks or plates 36, 38 and 40, arranged in a stack or side-by-side and staggered with three detent assemblages 42, 44 and 46. As shown, the switch decks and detent plate assemblages are all coaxial and are operatively connected with three concentric, telescoping shafts, an innermost shaft 48, an outermost shaft 50 and an intermediary shaft 52. The shafts 48, 50 and 52 respectively carry actuator members or knobs 54, 56 and 58,said knobs being shown as arranged end-to-end in coaxial, juxtaposed relationship whereby either knob may be actuated to the exclusion of the other two without moving the hand from the general location about the three knobs.

In accordance with the invention, an advantageous indicator means ordial comprising but a single dial plate 60 is operatively associated with the knobs 54, 56 and 58, and the said knobs have pointers 62, 64 and 66 which may be respectively referred to the dial 60 to enable each of the knobs to be accurately positioned and set as far as its rotative position is concerned and also with respect to the other two knobs.

Preferably, as shown, the dial 60 indicates twelve different possible switch positions in which any of the three knobs may be placed, corresponding to 12 different positions of each of the switch devices comprising the decks 36, 38 and 40.

In FIG. 3 a plane view of one of the switch decks, namely the deck 40, is illustrated, such switch deck having a pair of contact fingers 70 and 72 disposed on its front face for engagement with a contact sector 74 carried by the front face of a rotor 76. The switch rotor 76 has a second arcuate metal contact or sector 78 on its rear face, which is engageable with two additional contact fingers 8t) and 82. The contact sector 78 is shown as extending through a large arc of approximately 330, whereas the contact sector 74 extends through a relatively small are on the order of 30.

The switch deck 40 is of the type which has twelve different rotative positions, the position shown being the only one wherein the contact fingers 70, 72 are electrically connected together. The said contact fingers are joined one to the cable wire 28 and the other to a series-connector wire 86 which latter joins to one of two similar contact fingers of the switch deck 38. The remaining contact finger of the deck 38 is connected by a series connector Wire 88 to one of two similar contact fingers of the switch deck 36, and the remaining contact finger of such switch deck 36 is connected to the remaining wire 24 of the cable 26.

By such organization it is necessary, in order for the ignition circuit to be completed through the coil 20, for each of the switch decks 36, 38 and 40 to occupy its closed circuit position, such position being similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 for the switch deck 40. However, the knobs 56, 58 and 54 may occupy various different positions for the closed condition of the switch decks, depending on the securing of the knobs to the shafts and depending on the particular combination which will unlock the lock, that is, effect a closed circuit through all three of the switch decks. Since each of the switch decks has twelve possible different positions only one of which effects a closed circuit between the pairs of contact fingers above identified, in 1,728 different combinations of the switch positions only one will be correct for closing the circuit between the wires 24 and 28 of the cable 26, thereby to render the ignition circuit operative or energized.

In accordance with the present invention, each of the switch devices comprising the decks 36, 38 and 40 is associated with a relatively strong individual detent device, such devices comprising the assemblages 42, 44 and 46. Each detent assemblage is identical to the others, and accordingly, only the detent assemblage 42 will be described in detail. Such detent assemblage comprises a detent plate 92 having a total of twelve through openings disposed in a circle, such openings being arranged to receive detent ball bearings 94 engaged with spring detent arms 96 and 98. The spring detent arms extend in opposite directions and have openings occupied by the detent balls 94, such detent construction being per se of a conventional nature well understood by those skilled in the art.

The detent assemblages 42, 44 and 46 have a strong detent action whereby the three switch devices 36, 38 and 40 will be retained in any of the twelve possible positions thereof regardless of severe vibration, jarring, or accidental touching or striking of any of the knobs 54, 56 and 58, and this is an important feature of the invention inasmuch as it absolutely prevents mechanical malfunctioning of the combination switch-lock at all times. It will be appreciated that under some circumstances it is essential that the vehicle engine perform perfectly and that there is no failure of the ignition system. For example, if the vehicle is an automobile which is overtaking or passing another automobile, the failure of the ignition system during such maneuver would be quite serious or at least quite embarrassing to the driver and occupants. In an aircraft, failure of the igintion during the operation of landing or take-off, or during a maneuver such as a steep climb, could result in serious consequences.

However, by the present invention with the provision of the strong detent devices 42, 44 and 46 associated respectively with the switch devices 36, 38 and 40 there is no possibility of the ignition lock device shifting out of its circuit-closing position under normal conditions of use of the vehicle, regardless of the amount of normal vibration or jarring to which the device is subjected. Moreover, an accidental touching or brushing-by of the knobs 54, 56 and 58, as when the operator is reaching for some other instrument on the panel, will not result in the ignition device or lock becoming inadvertently open circuited.

As with the ignition lock device of the patent above identified, the present ignition lock may be associated with an alarm system comprising the vehicle horn or other electrical signal. The contact fingers 80 and 82 and the contact segment 78 shown in FIG. 3, together with similar pairs of contact fingers and similar contact segments on the switch devices 36 and 38, are utilized for this purpose. The three pairs of contact fingers are connected in parallel by wires and 102, as shown in FIG. 1. The parallel-connected contacts are connected to wires 104 and 106 of a cable, which wires are connected respective to a vehicle hood switch 108 and vehicle horn 110. The horn 110 is connected by a wire 112 to the battery terminal 14, and the hood switch has its remaining terminal connected to a ground at 114. Also, the wire 104 may connect with a switch 116 located in the trunk of the vehicle, the remaining terminal of such trunk switch being connected to a ground at 118. By such organization, whenever all of the three switch decks 36, 38 and 40 are in the single positions which effect a closing of the ignition circuit (as for example the position shown in FIG. 3 for the switch deck 40) the alarm circuit through the wires 104 and 106 will be open, and the horn will not sound even though the hood switch 108 or the trunk switch 116 is closed-circuited as by lifting the hood or opening the trunk. However, if the combination igintion lock is not in the position effecting a closing of the ignition circuit it will mean that at least one of the pairs of alarm contact fingers, as for example the fingers 80, 82, will be bridged by the cooperable sector of the switch whereby the horn circuit will be in readiness for energization upon lifting of the vehicle hood or opening of the vehicle trunk. Thus, unauthorized lifting of the hood or opening of the trunk without the ignition lock switch being first properly placed in the circuit-closing combination will cause the horn to sound, effecting an alarm.

The switch decks 36, 38 and 40 together with the detent assemblages 42, 44 and 46 are secured together by bolt and spacer means 122, and are housed in -a casing 124 and mounted by means of a threaded and slotted, keying-type bushing 126 and cooperable nut 128 on an instrument panel 130 of the vehicle, said panel having a well-known projection 132 (FIG. 2) received in the slot of the bushing 126 and by which the ignition lock is positively prevented from turning.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved combination vehicle ignition system and ignition lock having important advantages. All of the actuator members or knobs are disposed at one location, being coaxial and arranged end to end with one in back of the other as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The provision of the individual detent devices for the switch decks prevents an accidental dislodgment of any one switch device at the time that either of the other two is being adjusted or set, and positively eliminates the possibility of the switch lock becoming inadvertently opencircuited because of vibration, jarring or the application of a chance force as when the hand accidentally comes in contact with the knobs. However, at all times the keying projection 132 of the panel secures the lock against turning regardless of the strength of or resistance ofiered by the detent devices. All of the knobs are referred to the single dial 60, whereby insurance is had that the knobs may be accurately positioned when placing the switch in the proper combination, not only as regards the individual rotative positions of the switches but also as regards the relative rotative positions of the same. The switch lock is relative- 1y small and compact, and for all practical purposes the three knobs 54, 56 and 58 occupy but a single location whereby it is not necessary to shift the hand laterally when leaving one knob and grasping another. Further, the single location of the knobs facilitates and makes easier and simpler the shutting off of the ignition and upsetting of the combination, when this is desired, without extra hand movements being required of the operator as when knobs at different locations are employed.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim: 1. A vehicle ignition switch and lock therefor comprising in combination:

(a) a casing,

(b) a plurality of concentric, individually rotatable,

telescopically arranged shafts extending into said cas- (c) juxtaposed, axially aligned, indicating operating knobs carried at one location respectively by the juxtaposed ends of said shafts to turn their respective shafts and indicate the rotative position thereof,

((1) a single indicating dial disposed behind said knob, to which all of said knobs are referenced to enable accurate positioning to be effected with respect to each other,

(e) a plurality of multi-positioned, rotary selector switching devices disposed within the said casing, (f) spacer means for mounting said switch devices in spaced relationship within said casing,

(g) said switching devices including a deck plate and a rotary means,

(h) said rotary means of the respective switch devices being carried respectively on the remaining ends of said shafts in axially spaced relationship so as to be independently actuated thereby, each of said rotary means of said switch devices having means for effecting the closed switching circuit for only one of its rotative positions and effecting an open switching circuit for all other rotative positions thereof, said means for closing the switching circuit in said one position only including a small contact surface formed integral with said rotary means and a pair of contacts mounted on said deck plate for engaging said sector in said one position only,

(i) mounting means for mounting said casing on an instrument panel with the knobs at the front thereof,

(j) a relatively strong rotary ratchet type detent device operatively associated with the rotary means of each of the respective switching devices to fix the various operative opened and closed circuit positions of the respective rotary means and to hold the latter in any of the same against dislodgement by jarring, vibration and accident,

(k) circuit means connecting the switch devices in series whereby each such device must be in only one given rotative position corresponding to its closed circuit condition to effect the continuity through said circuit means, and

(1) an alarm system energized in all said other positions of said switching devices,

(In) said alarm system including a relatively large contact sector connected to the rotor of each of the respective switching devices,

(n) and a second pair of contacts mounted on its respective deck plate and angularly spaced from said first pair of contacts for engaging the said large contact sector,

(0) said sectors being arranged so that the contacts associate with said large sector contact therewith only when the small sector is out of contact with the contacts associated therewith.

2. A vehicle ignition switch and lock therefor comprising in combination:

(a) a casing, (b) a plurality of concentrically disposed individually rotatable shafts extending into the casing,

(c) juxtaposed, axially aligned, indicating operating knobs carried at one location respectively by the juxtaposed ends of the shafts to turn its respective shaft and to indicate the relative rotative positions thereof,

(d) an indicator dial disposed behind said knobs to which all said knobs may be referenced so as to enable accurate positioning to be effected with respect to each other,

(e) a plurality of multi-positionable rotary selector switches inclu-ding a deck plate and a rotor cooperatively associated therewith disposed within said casing,

(f) each of said rotors of said switch device being respectively carried by the remaining ends of said shafts in axially spaced relationship whereby said selector switches are rendered independently actuated thereby,

(g) a pair of cooperating contacts mounted on said deck plate, and said rotors each having a small contact sector engaging said contacts for effecting a. closed switching circuit for only one of the rotated positions of said rotors whereby an open switching circuit is effected in all other rotated positions of said rotors,

(h) mounting means to mount said shafts on the instrument panel with the knobs at the front thereof, and the switch and detent devices at the rear thereof,

(i) a relatively strong rotary ratchet type detent device associated respectively with the respective switch devices to fix the various operative open and closed circuit positions of the rotor so as to hold the latter in any position against dislodgement as by jarring, vibration or accident,

(j) said detent means being disposed between adjacent pairs of said switching devices in spaced relationship therewith,

(k) means for maintaining the deck plates of the respective switching devices and said detent means in coaxially spaced relationship,

(l) said ratchet detent devices including a detent plate having a series of openings circumferentially spaced thereon,

(in) ball bearings adapted to be received in said openings, and

(n) spring means connecting said ball bearings for urging the same into said openings for maintaining the position of the rotor means when the knob controlling the same is actuated, and

(o) circuit means connecting the respective switch devices in series whereby each such switch device must be in only one given relative rotative position corresponding to its Closed circuit condition to effect continuity through said circuit means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,230 7/29 Murray 340-64 2,299,646 10/ 42 Muller 200-43 X 2,517,619 8/50 Ainley 340-63 2,811,594 10/57 Papouschek 200-14 2,892,181 6/59 Benson et al. 340-64 2,935,730 5/ 60 Procter 340-63 2,984,717 5/61 Davidson 200-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,336 11/48 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK THEREFOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CASING, (B) A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC, INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE, TELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED SHAFTS EXTENDING INTO SAID CASING, (C) JUXTAPOSED, AXIALLY ALIGNED, INDICATING OPERATING KNOBS CARRIED AT ONE LOCATION RESPECTIVELY BY THE JUXTAPOSED ENDS OF SAID SHAFTS TO TURN THEIR RESPECTIVE SHAFTS AND INDICATE THE ROTATIVE POSITION THEREOF, (D) A SINGLE INDICATING DIAL DISPOSED BEHIND SAID KNOB, TO WHICH ALL OF SAID KNOBS ARE REFERENCED TO ENABLE ACCURATE POSITIONING TO BE EFFECTED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, (E) A PLURALITY OF MULTI-POSITIONED, ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCHING DEVICES DISPOSED WITHIN THE SAID CASING, (F) SPACER MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID SWITCH DEVICES IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITHIN SAID CASING, (G) SAID SWITCHING DEVICES INCLUDING A DECK PLATE AND A ROTARY MEANS, (H) SAID ROTARY MEANS OF THE RESPECTIVE SWITCH DEVICES BEING CARRIED RESPECTIVELY ON THE REMAINING ENDS OF SAID SHAFTS IN AXIALLY SAPCED RELATIONSHIP SO AS TO BE INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATED THEREBY, EACH OF SAID ROTARY MEANS OF SAID SWITCH DEVICES HAVING MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE CLOSED SWITCHING CIRCUIT FOR ONLY ONE OF ITS ROTATIVE POSITIONS AND EFFECTING AN OPEN SWITCHING CIRCUIT FOR ALL OTHER ROTATIVE POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID MEANS FOR CLOSING THE SWITCHING CIRCUIT IN SAID ONE POSITION ONLY INCLUDING A SMALL CONTACT SURFACE FORMED INTEGRAL WITH SAID ROTARY MEANS AND A PAIR OF CONTACTS MOUNTED ON SAID DECK PLATE FOR ENGAGING SAID SECTOR IN SAID ONE POSITION ONLY, (I) MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID CASING ON AN INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH THE KBOBS AT THE FRONT THEREOF, NJ) A RELATIVELY STRONG ROTARY RATCHET TYPE DETENT DEVICE OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROTARY MEANS OF EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE SWITCHING DEVICES T FIX THE VARIOUS OPERATIVE OPENED AND CLOSED CIRCUIT POSITIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE ROTARY MEANS AND TO HOLD THE LATTER IN ANY OF THE SAME AGAINST DISLODGEMENT BY JARRING, VIBRATION AND ACCIDENT, (K) CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTING THE SWITCH DEVICES IN SERIES WHEREBY EACH SUCH DEVICE MUST BE IN ONLY ONE GIVEN ROTATIVE POSITION CORRESPONDING TO ITS CLOSED CIRCUIT CONDITION TO EFFECT THE CONTINUITY THROUGH SAID CURCIT MEANS, AND (L) AN ALARM SYSTEM ENERGIZED IN ALL SAID OTHER POSITIONS OF SAID SWITCHING DEVICES, (M) SAID ALARM SYSTEM INCLUDING A RELATIVELY LARGE CONTACT SECTOR CONNECTED TO THE ROTOR OF ECH OF THE RESPECTIVE SWITCHING DEVICES, (N) AND A SECOND PAIR OF CONTACTS MOUNTED ON ITS RESPECTIVE DECK PLATE AND ANGULARLY SAPCED FROM SAID FIRST PAIR OF CONTACTS FOR ENGAGING THE SAID LARGE CONTACT SECTOR, (O) SAID SECTORS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT THE CONTACTS ASSOCIATE WITH SAID LARGE SECTOR CONTACT THEREWITH ONLY WHEN THE SMALL SECTOR IS OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE CONTACTS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH. 